The Locker Room Podcast - from DSS Coaching

Interviewing famous players in the modern era, dealing with managers, writing engaging articles, telling a good story, and what makes a book a piece of literature- it's all covered in this week's episode! Ciaran and Joe are this week joined by The Sunday Times journalist and writer Michael Foley and freelance journalist and writer Declan Bogue to discuss the current state of play of sports journalism and media; alongside a fascinating discussion on writing books and what makes a good story. Declan touches on his critically acclaimed book- 'This is our year' and the ensuing controversy with Kevin Cassidy and Jim McGuinness; as well as a touching story about the former Derry player who received the backing of his local community off the back of a hard-hitting article. Michael discusses his books- 'Harte' the autobiography of Mickey Harte; the award-winning 'Kings of September'; and the touching story of the 14 men, women and children who were killed on Bloody Sunday in Croke Park in 1920 in 'The Bloodied Field'. Michael also tells us the best GAA character he has ever interviewed- you may be surprised by it!

Sport Scientists Ciaran Deely & Ross Bennett are joined by Chris Ramsey- the world-renowned football coach at Tottenham Hotspurs, QPR and The FA, and former First Team Manager in the Premier League and Championship. Chris speaks about coaching the individual player in the team setting; positional essentials; what is the zone of proximal development (ZPD); how to design a player's individual learning plan (ILP); bringing through Harry Kane at Tottenham Academy; losing a FA Cup Final to Man Utd at Wembley in 1983 in front of 99,000 people; and some thoughts around what makes a good sport scientist and S&C coach in his eyes.

Ciaran, Ross & Joe are joined by Bernard Jackman, the legendary Leinster, Connacht, Sale Sharks and Irish Rugby Union player. Bernard speaks about his long coaching & playing Rugby career- which also took in coaching in France, Wales and Ireland- about how to build a High Performance team; Personal Development Plans (PDPs) for his players & staff; and what it was like to train every day with the like of Brian O Driscol & Gordan Darcy and how, in his own words, he was the 'piano-pusher' to their 'piano-player'! The lads also celebrated the return of Joe Coulter from his sacking from the Podcast last week...due to popular people power/outrage. So we had to give The People what they want, even if it ends in disaster!

Ciaran is joined first by Ross Bennett (QPR FC Academy Head of Performance) to discuss Max Speed development and making your players fasters; and later by QPR Sport Scientist and recent Graduate Ben Smalley to chat about how to break into the professional sports industry, and lessons he's learned along the way. Ross & Ciaran wonder how Ben managed to slip by their quality control net to get into their department at the club, and Ross & Ben have a fight about what day to programme your speed work (Ross won!!).

Coach and Sport Scientist Ciaran Deely is joined by Joe Coulter & Ross Bennett to discuss where sport goes from here; when will our GAA & football seasons return, if ever; and does it really matter? We also discuss the UK Govt's slow response to the CoVid-19 crisis; Ross' new podcast logo choice; Joe bankrupting London GAA with his exorbitant wages demands; and Ciaran having pints of Guinness with the GAA hierarchy in Croke Park at Congress...before getting sacked!

Coach and Sport Scientist Ciaran Deely is joined by Joe Coulter & Ross Bennett to discuss training your GAA or Football team during the CoVid-19 crisis, while using the 4-Corner Approach of player performance and preparation. Also spoke about Joe's retro County Down jersey and how does Ross fit into a GAA show as an English man!